Stag party who gambled on fiancee’s name win handsomely at Ballybrit

A lovestruck Scottish groom on his stag party at Galway Races picked a horse that sounded like his fiancee’s name and it paid off handsomely for himself and his pals.

David Livey had dressed as a jockey for the entire duration of their several day’s stopover in the city and caught the attention of many onlookers and well-wishers.

His friend Erik Geddes told the Advertiser that 12 pals came with David for the stag and decided to honour his fiancee Chloe Bellany by backing the horse Bubbly Bellini because the name sounded like hers.

All 13 out a tenner each on the horses which ripped home at 25-1

“None of us are racing experts and indeed for many of us this was the first time we’d been to a racecourse.

“The photo finish on this race was a great moment - we were only sorry we couldn’t offer any tips to many of the people requesting them in the Champagne Lounge afterwards as they collected their winnings of well over €3370.

“Bookmaker Dave Kearney was a great sport and let us film him count the winnings for David. The win paid for a slap up meal and all the drinks you could hope to imagine.

“We did try and reinvest the winnings into the local economy. Much of it in the West End, thanks to Mal Duggan’s excellent hospitality in the Blue Note and in Massimos.

“Throughout our time in Galway, David, our stag, was wonderfully dressed up - and caught the eye of many a local and tourist, both male and female,” said Mr Geddes.

David (who was dressed as the jockey ) marries Chloe in East Lothian (near Edinburgh ) on Saturday September 2.